Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Taiwan's Foreign Minister James Huang expressed his dipleasure with Dep. Secretary Negroponte's remarks over the proposed referendum on UN membership in Taiwan. This from Rti's website:

Taiwan's Foreign Minister James Huang said that he is disappointed with Negroponte's comments. Huang said that the referendum is not an attempt to move towards independence or towards altering the status quo. He said that it is just a way for the Taiwanese people to express their views.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party said Wednesday it would mobilize in mid-September 1 million people both in Taiwan and abroad to rally for island's bid to seek UN membership and hold a referendum on the issue.

"We will hold a rally in Kaohsiung on September 15 to promote our cause," party secretary-general Lin Chia-lung declared, adding he expected half a million people to show up for the event in the southern port city.

Another 500,000 overseas supporters are expected to join the party in staging rallies in various parts of the world simultaneously, he said.

He slammed the United States, Taiwan's informal ally and biggest arms' supplier, for trying to block the island from holding a referendum on joining the United Nations in the name of "Taiwan."

. . . Taiwan's foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated that the UN referendum had nothing to do with the island's desire to change its status. Spokesman David Wang said it was the most democratic and peaceful way for Taiwanese to express their wish to join the United Nations.

While expressing regret over Negroponte's remarks, Wang said his ministry will continue to communicate with Washington over the issue.

Negroponte's remark is the strongest warning US officials have made so far against Taiwan's upcoming UN referendum.

Finally, Rpi reports that both presidential candidates from Taiwan's two major parties have weighed in on Negroponte's comments.